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The GRE can decide whether you get into your desired graduate school and as such it should not be taken lightly. As with any standardized examination, you will need to put in some time to get a good score. Unless you are some kind of an extraordinary genius but then I suspect you wouldn’t be reading this guide.

Start the preparations as early as possible so that you have ample time to study and improve your score. It’s said that raising your score by 10 points takes on average around 80 hours of study. Can you do that in two weeks? Technically perhaps yes but studying this much in a short span of time definitely isn’t effective and won’t give you the results you’re hoping for.

Take a mock exam

The first step to any test preparations should be conducting a mock exam. You can do it by yourself at home. Take the full test by yourself and see how you scored on each section and what was the overall result. This will give you a rough idea of how much study you need to do to get to your desired level and which sections you should focus on. However, remember that it’s just that, a rough idea. You might have lucked out and gotten some of the answers right by accident. A good strategy is to leave the answer boxes empty in the questions you aren’t sure of – this way, you will be able to measure your actual knowledge rather than your guessing skills.

Figure out your best study method

The key to effective studying is finding a method that fits you. Not everyone studies in the same way. Are you more of an individualist that likes to set their study plan on their own? Or maybe you prefer someone to take over and give you a thorough course on all the material needed to get a good score on GRE?

If you decide to do everything by yourself then remember that you will need to be able to motivate yourself to study all the time. For some, thinking about their dream school is enough but others will need something more to feel properly motivated. If you find yourself feeling lost and not knowing how to move next then self-preparation might not be the best idea and a paid GRE course will suit you more. On the other hand, the good thing about self-studying is you will be able to freely choose your study times and adjust them to your schedule. Good GRE prep books are of utmost importance here – the better the material you work with the better the results.

Another factor to consider is when and where you study best. Are you more of a morning person or do you prefer to sleep in and start the study sessions in the afternoons? Can you find a quiet place at home to study with no distractions? If no, then maybe a local library would be more suitable.

Achieving a good GRE score is possible for anyone, as long as they diligently study beforehand. So go on and find your most effective study method.

Keep Your Pearly Whites Happy

A beautiful smile is perhaps one of the most important features of a person. According to the latest studies, it turns out that our smiles are not a learned behavior, but something that is deeply ingrained within our genetic makeup. Even blind people, who were born without the ability to see, still flash smiles left, right, and center. So why is this simple gesture so widely spread and important to humans? Well, for one, it’s one of the most extensively recognized forms of non-verbal communication. In certain situations, a smile can convey your emotions better than words can. When we can’t speak, we turn to smiling in order to reassure each other that everything’s going to be alright. When a child smiles, we know that they are happy. It’s nature’s way of telling us that we’re doing a good job. What’s even more interesting is the fact that smiling influences the way our brains think. Forcing yourself to smile, no matter how down or gloomy you are triggers a small chemical outburst in your nervous system. It’s basically your fail-safe mechanism against unhappiness. Smiling makes you happy and being happy makes you smile. It’s a never-ending cycle! That’s why it’s extremely important to take care of our teeth, as they are the stars of the whole smiling show. There is a wealth of information online that can help us choose what’s right for the health of our mouth and teeth.

Making the Right Choices

In total, adults have around 32 teeth, and most pearlies spend their entire time being all but hidden away behind our cheeks and lips. However, when one of them is unhappy, you can bet that all of them will get unhappy pretty soon. After all, they work as a unit, so they will absolutely behave as such. You could not even eat a sandwich without using all of them simultaneously, so treat them with the utmost care. Lately, it seems that a lot of companies are putting out huge electric toothbrushes which sport multiple functions and vibrating speeds. While they might seem worthwhile in theory, some of us just cannot wrap their heads around using one. Maybe your teeth are simply too sensitive to endure the pressure of a motorized toothbrush. Maybe you tried an electric one and just weren’t impressed. Choosing which manual toothbrush to go for can be a bit of a daunting task, so make sure to check out this link which highlights the best ones on the market right now.

If you wear dentures, you must definitely be familiar with the pain and hassle they can cause. If they’re not fixed correctly, they can slide around and make it uncomfortable to speak or eat. This can prevent you from living life to the fullest and enjoying meeting friends or going out to restaurants. A good, reliable adhesive is key to dispelling anxiety related to dentures. If you find yourself wondering: “what is the best denture adhesive for my needs?” I am here to tell you that it’s not a one-size-fits-all issue. Different adhesives serve different purposes and fit certain needs better. Make sure you choose the one that’s right for you!

Traveling with a Baby

Having a child is an equally wonderful and scary adventure. When you hold them in your arms for the first time, you’re amazed at how tiny and lightweight they are. At birth, babies usually weigh less than the average housecat. When it’s time to take them home, you very carefully place them in their carrier. As you grab the handle, you’re very careful not to swing it around too much.

They’re so small, it’s easy to forget that they’re even in there. During the first months of their lives, you pick them up more times than you can count. Gradually, you notice your back starting to ache. You pay no attention to it, you’ll adjust to it eventually. Some weeks pass; it’s time to start going outside more. You find yourself juggling a diaper bag, a stroller, a car seat, and the (now significantly heavier) baby.

You muster all the strength in your body and get the little one in the car seat. You get to the park and immediately head over to a bench to catch your breath. Everyone warned you having kids is a difficult job, but no one ever told you it’s going to wreak havoc on your joints. And don’t get me started on taking a baby on a plane. Lugging everything around through a busy airport is nothing short of exhausting. Depending on where you go, you might have to bring a portable crib on top of your usual stroller, colorful toys and luggage. Who would have thought traveling with a kid could replace a visit to the gym?

Making Light Work of It

There are no hard rules when it comes to buying things for your child. It all depends on your needs and parenting style. Sure, there is some stuff you can’t afford to overlook, such as a stroller, a car seat, a good bassinet or crib, but don’t rush to buy expensive diaper bags. sleep monitors, or fancy toys. No one child needs 10 blankets. Trust me on this one. When choosing the essentials, heavy doesn’t always mean more sturdy. Oftentimes, it’s exactly the opposite. Heavy car seats are more difficult to lug around and install in your car. A heavy cot or crib could be good, but not if you plan on moving it around a lot. Out of all of the new purchases you have to make, I’d argue that a stroller is the most important. It’s the key element that can either make your life easier or more difficult. When picking one out, remember that its weight will almost double once you add the baby and a bag full of diapers, bottles, and snacks. Lille Nord is a website dedicated to new parents struggling to navigate this new way of life. They have articles on everything baby-related, including a particularly helpful one on how to choose the best lightweight stroller. You might be tempted to go with one that looks robust and weighs as much as a tank. You know just know that thing will not turn a corner, no matter how strong your core is. What’s more, featherweight strollers are oftentimes more compact and portable, so you won’t need to worry about long drives or packed airplanes. Keep it light!

Benefits of Hiking

Hiking is, by far, one of the most popular outdoor activities because you don’t need any special equipment (like rock climbing or mountain biking), just the clothes on your back and a good reliable water bottle. Its popularity is, in part, due to the fact that a lot of us live just a short drive away from a hiking trail or walking route. Oftentimes overlooked as a type of exercise, walking is a very important form of cardio for our bodies. Before cars or horses, our ancestors used to walk a lot – whether they were hunting and foraging for food or looking for shelter. It’s a form of travel that is very well ingrained in our genetic makeup. Hiking allows us to exercise while surrounded by nature, which is not only good for our physical health, but also for our mental well-being. We live incredibly busy lives, where it’s not unusual to sit at a desk all day and not unheard of to breathe unclean, polluted air. Hiking, while a very good form of exercise, is also very social in essence, allowing us to take in and enjoy the great outdoors in the company of family and friends. The fresh air clears up our lungs, while the amazing scenery nourishes our souls. When it comes to toddlers and young children, hiking teaches them how to respect nature, and instills in them a bond to the outdoors which they won’t relinquish easily. Embarking on a trail with small kids might seem a bit daunting to new parents. However, according to The Lake and Stars, your first hike with your child can go smoothly, as long as you do a bit of preparation.

How Do You Prepare?

Hiking in nature is not that different from going on a very long walk to the park. You will, of course, need plenty of food and water with you. You can turn it into more of an event by packing a blanket and having a picnic. Depending on where you’re going, it can get chilly, so make sure you and your family are bundled up. Above all (and I cannot stress this enough) make sure your child is wearing comfortable shoes that suit the trail and support their growing feet. A lot can go wrong when choosing hiking boots for kids. They have a lot less experience using their legs than you do, so even the slightest discomfort causes them a lot of pain. If the shoes do not offer enough support, it might make it difficult for them to keep up with your pace. Depending on the terrain, their boots need a stiff sole if the trail is rocky; but softer soles are more comfortable on grassy or muddy tracks. If you live in an area where it rains a lot, you might benefit immensely from buying shoes that are weather insulated. You don’t have to spend a fortune on your kid’s shoes (as they will outgrow them pretty quickly), but they need to be of good quality so they don’t hurt or damage their tiny feet. After all, the last thing you need is to carry your crying toddler halfway up the hill while they scream about how much their feet hurt.

Summer is coming, and this is no time for complying with a passive life at home. Just as children need dynamics, you do too. If you have a writer’s block and still want to plan in advance a list of activities to pursue in the summer, dive into my list of fun activities for inspiration.

How to get the most out of this summer

1. Water Balloon Fight

Splashing water balloons around is an awesome way of mitigating the scorching summer days. Besides, your kids might love the idea of finally getting to play with water after a bunch of promises throughout the colder seasons. Since filling up one balloon at a time can get pretty tedious, you should opt for a pack of self-sealing water balloons, which you can find both on Amazon and at Walmart.

2. Rustle up a reading nook

Nature plays a central role in relaxing our minds. Thus, you should take advantage of a personal yard and assemble a DIY nook for reading books and fun talks with your folks. Also, you could consider buying a walmart pop-up tent from Walmart and extend the storytime for the night. It would be a great chance to teach your children how entertaining camping is and play scouts while exploring the vegetation in your backyard.

3. Challenge your family to a Twister game on the grass

Improvisation is the key to genuine entertainment. Also, thinking outside the box can only bring up extra ideas to your bucket list, which could lead to even more crazy game ideas. Go to the nearest crafts shop and buy a bunch of paint that you’ll apply on the grass while trying to imitate the Twister carpet. Let the paint dry and challenge your children to a fanned game.

4. Organize a crafting workshop

Children urge to exercise and explore their creativity in all forms. While you could let them discover it by themselves, involving yourself and creating a fun environment to stimulate their imagination would surely be appreciated. Not having ideas? Just ask your children. They’ll instantly trump up a few cutting, gluing, and painting ideas. You merely have to provide the papers and scissors.

5. Create a puppet show

During childhood, inventing stories and profiles of our dolls and cars and creating contexts for them to exist is one of the most beloved activities. Your little ones will adore the idea of putting up a puppet show with their teddies and dolls, and they might even come up with a narrative. You could take turns at playing the audience and the actor and then vote for the best play.

6. Arrange a rope bridge tournament 

If your children have a lot of energy, then more dynamic activities would play better. With some ropes and two or three trees, you could devise a rope bridge for riveting contests. Make sure that the trees are stable enough to support the weight of an adult, and the same goes for the ropes.

7. Initiate an outdoor movie night 

Place a few blankets and pillows on the ground, supply yourself with a projector, and grace the day with a film for the family. The natural environment will add value to the experience and create a romantic scenery that no indoor cinema could ever provide.